Slide fastener adhesive tape applicator

ABSTRACT

An adhesive tape applicator for applying adhesive tape from a roll to a slide fastener tape in spaced relation to the meshing elements of the slide fastener including a compartment for rotatably supporting the roll of adhesive tape, and a pressure foot-receiving adhesive tape from the compartment through a passage and having a surface for pressing the adhesive tape onto the slide fastener tape and a guide channel laterally displaced from the surface for receiving the meshing elements of the slide fastener. The applicator is guided along the slide fastener by the engaging of the meshing elements with the guide channel to apply the adhesive tape to the slide fastener tape in spaced relation with the meshing elements.

United States Patent Thaeler 1 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] SLIDE FASTENERADHESIVE TAPE APPLICATOR [72] lnventor: Bruce K. 'lhaeler, Meadville,Pa.

[73] Assignee: Textron Inc.

[22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 4,650

Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-G. E. MontoneAttorney-'Meech & Field [57] ABSTRACT An adhesive tape applicator forapplying adhesive tape from a roll to a slide fastener tape in spacedrelation to the meshing elements of the slide fastener including acompartment for rotatably supporting the roll of adhesive tape, and apressure foot-receiving adhesive tape from the compartment through apassage and having a surface for pressing the adhesive tape onto theslide fastener tape and a guide channel laterally displaced from thesurface for receiving the meshing elements of the slide fastener. Theapplicator is guided along the slide fastener by the engaging of themeshing elements with the guide channel to apply the adhesive tape tothe slide fastener tape in spaced relation with the meshing elements,

1 Claims,8 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUFEBZQIQIZ K I 3,645,831

SHEET 1 OF 2 "Ti r INVENTOR BRUCE 1 K. THAELER arlwgjw ATTORNEYSPATENTEDFEBZQ I972 BRUCE K. T/f/AELER ATTORNEYS SLIDE FASTENER ADHESIVETAPE APPLICATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention vThe present invention pertains to adhesive tape applicators and, moreparticularly, to such applicators for applying adhesive tape to a slidefastener tape.

2. Description of the Prior Art Recently, the basting operation normallyrequired when sewing a slide fastener to a garment has been eliminatedby the use of adhesive tape having adhesive material on both sidesthereof. The adhesive tape is applied to the slide fastener tape inspaced relation with the meshing elements of the slide fastener, and thegarment material is then positioned above the adhesive tape and pressedthereon such that the garment material is secured to the slidefastenertape. The garment material and the slide fastener tape are thensewn together by means such as a sewing machine.

In the past in order to properly position the adhesive tape on the slidefastener tape, it was conventional to provide the adhesive tape with anoverlapping release backing, and the free edge of the backing wasaligned in abutting relationship with the meshing elements of the slidefastener such that the once the backing was removed the adhesive tapewould be spaced from the meshing elements. This method of applyingadhesive tape to the slide fastener tape is cumbersome, inaccurate andaesthetically undesirable. One of the advantages of the use of adhesivetape to eliminate basting is that the adhesive tape remains sandwichedbetween the gannent material and the slide fastener tape after sewing;and, accordingly, inaccurately applied and spaced adhesive tape may beobservable after completion of the sewing operation thereby destroyingthe desired final appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is summarized in anapplicator for applying adhesive tape from a roll to a slide fastenertape in spaced relation with meshing elements of the slide fastenerincluding a storage compartment for rotatably supporting the roll ofadhesive tape, a pressure foot including a surface for pressing theadhesive tape onto the slide fastener tape, and a passage for supplyingthe adhesive tape from the roll to the surface, the pressure footfurther including a guide laterally displaced from the surface forreceiving the meshing elements of the slide fastener whereby theapplicator may be moved along the length of the slide fastener to applythe adhesive tape to the slide fastener tape in spaced relation with themeshing elements.

It is an object of the present invention to construct an applicator forapplying adhesive tape to slide fastener tape in spaced relation withthe meshing elements of the slide fastener.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize a guide channel toengage meshing elements of a slide fastener and guide movement of anadhesive tape applicator along the slide fastener, the guide channelbeing laterally displaced from a surface for applying the adhesive tape.

A further object of the present invention is to laterally displace apair of guide channels on either side of a surface for applying anadhesive tape in an adhesive tape applicator.

The present invention has another object in that a slide fasteneradhesive tape applicator is inexpensively formed with no movingparts toaccurately space an adhesive tape from the meshing elements of a slidefastener.

Some of the advantages of the adhesive tape applicator of the presentinvention over the prior art are that adhesive tape may be accuratelyspaced from the meshing elements of a slide fastener to obviate thebasting step in sewing a slide fastener to garment, and the adhesivetape applicator may be inexpensively produced.

Further objects and advantages-of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimenttaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of anadhesive tape applicator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the adhesive tape applicator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded top view of the adhesive tape applicator of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the adhesive tape applicator of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the adhesive tape applicator of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 7 illustrating theuse of another guide channel in the adhesive tape applicator of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An adhesive tape applicatoraccording to the present invention is illustrated as used to applyadhesive tape to a slide fastener tape in FIG. 1. The applicator isdesirably made of a plastic material and includes, as basic elements, acompartment 10 for storing a roll of adhesive tape 12 and a pressurefoot 14 for applying the adhesive tape to a slide fastener tape 16attached to the meshing elements 18 of a slide fastener. The adhesivetape 12 has adhesive on both sides with the adhesive on the top sidebeing protected by a release backing.

As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, compartment 10 is cupshaped with anouter wall 20 extending transversely from a planar sidewall 22 confiningthe roll of adhesive tape 12. The central portion of sidewall 22 has arounded annular shoulder 24 therein which terminates in a transverselyextending cylindrical wall forming a hollow spindle 26 for supportingthe roll of adhesive tape 12. Outer wall 20 has a flat base portion 28terminating in an upwardly extending, arcuate guide wall 30 whichprotrudes into the adhesive tape storage compartment in a generallyconcentric manner with a tangential side portion 32 of outer wall 20 tofonn an exit from compartment 10 for the adhesive tape.

A retaining sleeve 34 has a cylindrical wall 36 which has an outwardlyextending annular bead 38 on one end thereof and a transverselyextending annular flange 40 at the other end thereof. Sleeve 34 isinserted in hollow spindle 26 once the roll of adhesive tape 12 ispositioned on the spindle such that head 38 snaps into engagement withshoulder 24 and the roll of adhesive tape is captured between sidewall22 and flange 40.

Walls 30 and 32 form an exit passage 42 to deliver the adhesive tapefrom the roll to pressure foot 14 for application to the slide fastenertape. Exit passage 42 communicates with an alignment slot 44 in thelower portion of foot 14, which alignment slot 44 tapers gradually intoa smooth bottom surface 46. Bottom surface 46 smoothly curveslongitudinally to the distal end 47 of pressure foot 14 which has aplurality of cutting teeth 48 arranged laterally thereacross. The widthof bottom surface 46 is substantially greater than the width of theadhesive tape, and on either side of bottom surface 46 are laterallydisplaced, curved guide channels 50 and 52, respectively.

Guide channel 50 has a trapezoidal cross section with an angled frontface 54 extending down to the channel and beveled sides 56 and 58 whichare oriented to provide a greater space at the open portion of thechannel than at the closed portion of the channel. A sidewall 60 abutsbeveled side 58 and has a smooth-curved surface 62 aligned with bottomsurface 46, as best shown in FIG. 6. Guide channel 50 extends fromdistal end 47 of pressure foot 14 to a position near the rear end ofpressure foot 14 where sides 56 and 58 taper to meet bottom surface 46.

Guide channel 52 has a generally triangular cross section formed byangled sides 64 and 66, and a sidewall 68 of pressure foot 14 has abeveled end 70 cooperating with angled side 66 to form a tapered guideedge having a smooth-curved surface 72 aligned with bottom surface 46and surface 62. Guide channel 52 extends from an angled front face 74 atdistal nd 47 of pressure foot 14 to a position near the rear end ofpressure foot 14 where sides 64 and 66 taper to meet bottom surface 46.

In operation, the applicator is gripped with the top of compartment inthe heel of the hand and the base portion 28 held by the fingers. Theapplicator is tilted, as shown in FIG. 1, such that the adhesive tape ispressed against the slide fastener tape 16 by bottom surface 46 as it isfed from compartment 10 through exit passage 42 and alignment slot 44.If the meshing elements 18 are of the exposed scoop variety, theapplicator is positioned such that the meshing elements are received inguide channel 50 as shown in FIG. 7. The applicator is moved along theslide fastener while applying pressure on foot 14 to press the adhesivetape 12 onto the slide fastener tape 16 and to maintain meshing elements18 in guide channel 50. The roll of adhesive tape will rotate on spindle26 as the applicator is moved along the slide fastener, and the adhesivetape is supplied to bottom surface 46 through exit passage 42 and guideslot 44. Adhesive tape 12 will adhere to slide fastener tape 16 inspaced relation with meshing elements 18 due to the lateral displacementof guide channel 50'from the portion of bottom surface 46 utilized topress the adhesive tape 12 onto the slide fastener tape 16. The spacebetween meshing elements 18 and the applied adhesive tape 12 isdesignated A in FIG. 7; and, or course, the space A may be varied bychanging the lateral displacement of guide channel 50 from bottomsurface 46.

After the adhesive tape 12 is applied the length of the slide fastenertape 16, the applicator is tilted up on distal end 47 of pressure foot14 such that cutting teeth 48 engage the adhesive tape. The adhesivetape is then severed by twisting movement of the applicator.

Once the adhesive tape 12 has been applied to the slide fastener tape 16on either side of the meshing elements 18, the release backing isremoved from the applied adhesive tape to expose the adhesive on the topside thereof. The material of the garment is then pressedagainst theexposed side of the adhesive tape, and the final sewing operation isperformed. Of course, the final sewing step may be dispensed with ifanadhesive tape is utilized that has sufficient strength and permanenceto adhere to the material without more and withstand the normal forceson a slide fastener.

Guide channel 52 is adapted for use in applying adhesive tape 12 to thetape of a concealed slide fastener, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Themeshing elements 71 on either side of the concealed slide fastener aresecured to folds 65 and 67 in the slide fastener tape 16 such that themeshing elements are not visible when the slide fastener is closed dueto the abutment of folds 65 and 67. Guide channel 52 receives fold 65 ofthe slide fastener tape, and curved surface 72 of the tapered guide edgeis inserted between folds 65 and 67 such that angled side 66 contactsfold 6S and beveled end 70 contacts fold 67. The applicator is movedalong the concealed slide fastener to apply adhesive tape 12 to slidefastener tape 16 in spaced relation to meshing element 71 in the samemanner as previously described with respect to guide channel 50. Guidechannel 52 may also be used to engage the cord sometimes used to securemeshing elements of a slide fastener to a slide fastener tape.

The angular, inward orientation of sides 56 and 58 of. guide channel 50and sides 64 and 66 of guide channel 52 serve to center the meshingelements therein to increase the accuracy of the spacing of the adhesivetape from the meshing elements. Exit passage 42 and guide slot 44 assurethe adhesive tape 12 is accurately aligned as it is supplied to bottomsurface 46 to further increase spacing accuracy.

It may be'seen that the applicator of the present invention accuratelyspaces the adhesive tape from the meshing elements of a slide fastenerdue to the lateral displacement of the guide channels from the pressingsurface used to press the adhesive tape onto the slide fastener tape.Furthermore, the adhesive tape may be easily and quickly positionedsince the meshing elements will not slip out of the guide channelsduring the application of pressure and the applicator may be quicklymoved along the length of the slide fastener.

The outer dimensions of the applicator of the present invention are suchas to easily fit in a hand; and the spacing between the pressing surfaceused to apply the adhesive tape and the guide channels may be varied foruse with various width slide fastener tapes. The width and shape of theguide channels may also be varied to accommodate meshing elements ofvarious shapes and sizes.

inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations,modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. An applicator for applying adhesive tape from a roll to a slide tapein spaced relation with meshing elements of a slide fastener comprisinga storage compartment for the roll of adhesive tape having therein meansfor rotatably supporting the roll of adhesive tape;

said means for rotatably supporting the roll of adhesive tape comprisinga hollow spindle and cylindrical retaining sleeve having a transverselyextending flange, said retaining sleeve engaging in said hollow spindleto capture the roll of adhesive tape between said flange and a wall ofsaid compartment;

a pressure foot integral with said compartment and having a pressingsurface for pressing the adhesive tape onto the slide fastener tape andcutting means formed at the outer end of said pressing surface; and

passage means communicating with said storage compartment and saidpressure foot for supplying the adhesive tape from the roll to saidsurface;

said passage means comprising a guide slot to properly align theadhesive tape on said pressing surface;

said pressure foot further comprising a bottom surface coinciding withsaid pressing surface and guide means comprising a first channel in saidbottom surface laterally displaced a fixed distance to one side of saidpressing surface and a second channel in said bottom surface laterallydisplaced a fixed distance to the other side of said pressing surface,said first and second channels each having inwardly, angularly orientedsides adapted to center the meshing elements of the slide fastener; saidfirst channel having a trapezoidal shape in cross section and saidsecond channel having a triangular shape in cross section,

whereby the meshing elements of the slide fastener are received by oneof said guide means so that the applicator may be moved along the lengthof the slide fastener to apply the adhesive tape to the slide fastenertape in fixed spaced relation with the meshing elements.

1. An applicator for applying adhesive tape from a roll to a slide tapein spaced relation with meshing elements of a slide fastener comprisinga storage compartment for the roll of adhesive tape having therein meansfor rotatably supporting the roll of adhesive tape; said means forrotatably supporting the roll of adhesive tape comprising a hollowspindle and cylindrical retaining sleeve having a transversely extendingflange, said retaining sleeve engaging in said hollow spindle to capturethe roll of adhesive tape between said flange and a wall of saidcompartment; a pressure foot integral with said compartment and having apressing surface for pressing the adhesive tape onto the slide fastenertape and cutting means formed at the outer end of said pressing surface;and passage means communicating with said storage compartment and saidpressure foot for supplying the adhesive tape from the roll to saidsurface; said passage means comprising a guide slot to properly alignthe adhesive tape on said pressing surface; said pressure foot furthercomprising a bottom surface coinciding with said pressing surface andguide means comprising a first channel in said bottom surface laterallydisplaced a fixed distance to one side of said pressing surface and asecond channel in said bottom surface laterally displaced a fixeddistance to the other side of said pressing surface, said first andsecond channels each having inwardly, angularly oriented sides adaptedto center the meshing elements of the slide fastener; Said first channelhaving a trapezoidal shape in cross section and said second channelhaving a triangular shape in cross section, whereby the meshing elementsof the slide fastener are received by one of said guide means so thatthe applicator may be moved along the length of the slide fastener toapply the adhesive tape to the slide fastener tape in fixed spacedrelation with the meshing elements.